Article: LCA methodology applied to the realisation of a domestic plate: confrontation among the use of three different raw materials Journal: International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management (IJPQM) 2016 Vol.18 No.2/3 pp.325 - 346 Abstract: This paper aims at assessing the environmental impact of a household product such as a domestic plate, comparing, through the use of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, three different materials in which it can be made: plastic (polypropylene), ceramics and mater-bi (biodegradable plastic). To better understand all stages of the life cycle of each type of plate, the study has been divided into three parts: manufacture, use and disposal. These three phases join in a single project for each type of plate, in order to compare the environmental final impacts of the three life cycles. This study focuses on the comparison of the environmental impacts of the different types of plate, analysing the results of the LCA, their accuracy, and, at the same time, identifying the critical stages. In this study the LCA software SimaPro 7.3.3 has been used. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: LCA methodology applied to the realisation of a domestic plate: confrontation among the use of three different raw materials

Authors: Leonardo Postacchini; Maurizio Bevilacqua; Claudia Paciarotti; Giovanni Mazzuto

Addresses: Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy ' Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e Scienze Matematiche, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131, Ancona, Italy ' Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e Scienze Matematiche, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131, Ancona, Italy ' Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e Scienze Matematiche, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131, Ancona, Italy

Abstract: This paper aims at assessing the environmental impact of a household product such as a domestic plate, comparing, through the use of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, three different materials in which it can be made: plastic (polypropylene), ceramics and mater-bi (biodegradable plastic). To better understand all stages of the life cycle of each type of plate, the study has been divided into three parts: manufacture, use and disposal. These three phases join in a single project for each type of plate, in order to compare the environmental final impacts of the three life cycles. This study focuses on the comparison of the environmental impacts of the different types of plate, analysing the results of the LCA, their accuracy, and, at the same time, identifying the critical stages. In this study the LCA software SimaPro 7.3.3 has been used.

Keywords: life cycle assessment; LCA; domestic plates; plastic plates; ceramic plates; ceramics; biodegradable plastics; SimaPro 7.3.3; quality management; environmental sustainability; polypropylene; raw materials; sustainable development; environmental impact.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2016.076713

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2016 Vol.18 No.2/3, pp.325 - 346

Published online: 23 May 2016 *

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Title: LCA methodology applied to the realisation of a domestic plate: confrontation among the use of three different raw materials

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